*The ~&^$^%(an error has occurred. Please try again.) blocks the way.
They pushed off their hood, back still turned.
.
I use the dead wood to make the fire rise
.
What a beautiful voice.
The cloak reached out tendrils of oily silken shadow.
.
The blood of innocents burning in the skies
.
I am so tired suddenly.
Sleep.
Warm sleep.
Quiet sleep.
Very deep sleep.
That is what you want, no?
.
I filled my cup with the rising of the sea
.
In time, all sleep. I know this.
I do not kill.
I just take over from then on.
.
And poured it out in an ocean of debris
.
They turned around.
Their face. I want to see their face. I have to see their face.
Reality snapped back like a rubber band with a vengeance.
DON'T TOUCH ME.
"Your face," I say like the idiot I am.
YOU ARE LUCKY YOU DID NOT SEE IT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE END OF YOUR STORY, I'M AFRAID.
"You are afraid of something. Huh."
SO SAYS THE BEING THAT PERCEIVES TIME AS LINEAR.
"So says the weird cloak thing."
They hummed Carmen Suite No. 2.
"Subject changer," I accuse. Their cowl gives me a look that roughly translates as "hypocrite".
WE ARE AT YOUR DESTINATION. I HAVE PEOPLE TO FERRY, PLACES TO BE…
I roll my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks, dude."
They stiffen. I AM NOT A "DUDE".
"I call everyone "dude", regardless of their profession or sex," I retort. I hold out six coins.
They regard me warily. I ONLY REQUIRE FOUR.
I shrug. "Keep anyway. 'S a tip."
The cowl radiates stunned wariness. "Oh, fer goodness sake," I exclaim. "Just take it already."
The money disappears. They must have gotten it; the money is gone, my hand is empty, my purse is six coins lighter. I don't really… remember it, though.
I shrug the sensation away. Whatever. I can deal. "Seeya."
Behind me, I know more than sense in any way that they have turned their boat and are headed back upstream, to ferry more people.
I wonder with a shiver if they are awake, or lost in dreams.
Lyrics from Linkin Park. I unabashedly stole "I don't kill i just take over from then on" from Terry Pratchett's Mort. Alls my stories- now and to come- will have some underlying theme or other of dreams/dreaming/dreamers. Sorry about the random periods-I didn't want to add a line, and when I tried spaces it didn't work. Pah.
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